Zoysiagrass plant named &#39;BM230&#39;

ABSTRACT

An asexually reproduced variety of perennial  zoysiagrass  with a unique combination of characters including fine to medium leaf blade width, low floral production, and unique AFLP fingerprint.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct asexually reproducedvariety of perennial zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a new and distinct perennial zoysiagrasscultivar identified as ‘BM230’ zoysiagrass (herein referred to as‘BM230’). The inventor, Virginia G. Lehman, discovered ‘BM230’ undercultivated conditions in a lawn near Parker, Tex. ‘BM230’ was identifiedas a distinctly different vegetative patch or segregated clonal plantdiffering by coarser leaf texture and aggressive spread from thesuspected parental varieties ‘Meyer’ (unpatented) and Chinese commonseeded zoysia. The inventor asexually reproduced ‘BM230’ by takingvegetative cuttings of the plant material from the lawn includingstolons and rhizomes, cutting the rhizomes and stolons into segments,each with a vegetative bud, and rooted them in potting media nearParker, Tex.

For purposes of registration under the “International Convention for theProtection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its Frenchacronym as the UPOV Convention) and noting Section 1612 of the Manual ofPlant Examining Procedure, it is proposed that the title of theinvention is Zoysiagrass plant named ‘BM230’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1. Tiller of ‘BM230’ zoysiagrass.

FIG. 2. Inflorescence of ‘BM230’ zoysiagrass.

COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘BM230’ was characterized in greenhouse and field conditions. ‘BM230’ isa unique variety of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica (L.)) Merr. that wasdiscovered under cultivated conditions in a lawn originally planted withMeyer and Chinese common zoysiagrass. ‘BM230’ was identified in the lawnas having a leaf texture more coarse than its suspected parent ‘Meyer’.The lawn was located in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7. ‘BM230’ waspropagated by the inventor under field and greenhouse conditions inParker, Tex. by cutting of rhizomes and stolons, rooting them in soil,and planting of the rooted material to provide planting stock forstudying performance and for comparison of morphological charactersafter propagation. ‘BM230’ has been propagated by rhizomes, stolons,tillers, and sod. Asexually reproduced plants of ‘BM230’ have remainedstable and true to type through successive generations of propagation.No seedling establishment from ‘BM230’ has been noticed in eithergreenhouse or field studies.

‘BM230’ is a perennial zoysiagrass that spreads by both stolons andrhizomes. Characteristics of ‘BM230’ measured in 2003 were taken fromplants that were approximately 15 months in age. The greenhouse waslocated near Lebanon, Oreg., with a nighttime low temperature of 50degrees F., and daytime high of 80 degrees F., and a minimum soiltemperature of 77 degrees F. The plants were grown with a minimum14-hour day length, supplemented with photosynthetically activeradiation equivalent to approximately 50% sunlight. The plants werefertilized with the equivalent of 1 pound of actual N per month, using asoluble fertilizer of 20-20-20 in two equal soluble applications permonth.

‘BM230’ has a more coarse leaf texture than the suspected parent‘Meyer’, and the closest width class cultivars ‘Crowne’ or ‘El Toro’(Table 1) when measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, Oreg.,2003. ‘BM230’ has a longer floral area than ‘Meyer’, ‘Crowne’, and ‘ElToro’, with shorter anthers than ‘Crowne’ (Table 2). ‘BM230’ has noadaxial surface leaf hairs compared to the varieties ‘Meyer’ and‘Cavalier’ that have leaf hairs present (Table 3). No seeds of ‘BM230’have developed; no seedlings have been noted in field production area orfield test areas. The inflorescences produced in the greenhouse haveconsisted of empty glumes. ‘BM230’ has not shown any susceptibility intests to date in the Parker, Tex. site to the diseases and insectscommon to the zoysiagrass genus. ‘BM230’ shows turf density similar to‘Meyer’. ‘BM230’ has shown good turfgrass performance and temperatureadaptation when tested as far north as Dallas, Tex., USDA hardiness zone7b, which would extend the area of adaptation for ‘BM230’ in a line fromcentral Georgia across northern Arkansas through Central to North Texasin an East/West line and on a North/South line from central Georgiasouth through Mexico. ‘BM230’ will be limited only by winter survival incolder regions. ‘BM230’ is similar to most medium to coarse texturedzoysiagrasses in water use demands as shown in test situations nearDallas, Tex., and will be limited by adequate precipitation in drier toarid regions. ‘BM230’ is adapted from sandy to heavier loam soiltextures and from slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil pH.

‘BM230’ showed clear distinction from Meyer and Emerald with polymorphicbands in AFLP fingerprints of ‘BM230’ (tested as ‘BMZ230’). Six primercombinations, P-ACC/M-CAA, P-ACC/M-CAC, P-ACC/M-CAT, P-ACC/M-CCA,P-ACC/M-CCC, and P-ACC/M-CCG showed a number of differences for ‘BM230’from other zoysiagrasses. TABLE 1 Leaf blade widths and lengths andtexture class of selected zoysiagrass cultivars, measured undergreenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2003. Length, 3rd Width, 3rdyoungest youngest crown crown leaf Variety leaf cm mm Leaf Texture Class‘BM230’ 5.03 4.25 Coarse ‘Cashmere’ 3.68 1.89 Fine ‘Diamond’ 2.02 1.13Very Fine ‘Emerald’ 4.85 2.10 Fine ‘Royal’ 1.92 1.63 Very Fine‘Cavalier’ 2.15 1.87 Very Fine ‘Meyer’ 6.47 3.64 Medium-Coarse ‘Crowne’5.40 3.85 Medium-Coarse ‘El Toro’ 3.80 3.32 Medium-Coarse t, p = 0.052.370 0.150

TABLE 2 Inflorescence and leaf characters of selected zoysiagrasscultivars, measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2003.Length, flag leaf collar to Sheath first length, Node width Length lowercrown Anther at base of floral area node leaf length inflorescenceVariety cm mm cm mm mm ‘BM230’ 4.73 5.83 2.1 2.55 1.29 ‘Emerald’ 1.444.15 1.81 1.29 0.76 ‘Cashmere’ 1.76 13.48 1.40 1.31 0.60 ‘Meyer’ 3.103.78 1.80 2.17 0.78 ‘Crowne’ 3.16 9.00 1.74 3.50 0.72 ‘El Toro’ 3.788.38 1.53 1.50 0.99 t, p = 0.05 0.128 2.710 0.131 0.010 0.013

TABLE 3 Adaxial leaf hair length measurements of selected zoysiagrasscultivars, measured under greenhouse conditions in Lebanon, OR, 2003Hair length, adaxial leaf Variety mm ‘BM230’ 0.00 ‘Emerald’ 2.153‘Cashmere’ 0.000 ‘Meyer’ 1.767 ‘Royal’ 0.000 ‘Crowne’ 1.247 ‘Cavalier’2.029 ‘El Toro’ 1.263 t, p = 0.05 0.080

COMPLETE BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

-   Origin: ‘BM230’ is a cultivar of a single clone discovered under    cultivated conditions in a Parker, Tex. lawn of ‘Meyer’ and Chinese    common zoysiagrass.-   Classification: Zoysia japonica (L.) Merr.-   Growth habit: ‘BM230’ is a perennial plant that spreads by stolons    and rhizomes and produces a dense, coarse textured turfgrass. The    inflorescence of ‘BM230’ is a terminal spike-like raceme, with    spikelets on short pedicels.-   Leaf blade: rolled in the bud, concave surface.-   Leaf blade pubescence: Sparse hairs on edge of leaves only, 2.0 mm.-   Leaf sheath pubescence: few long hairs at mouth of sheath, mean    length: 4.18 mm.-   Leaf blade margin: rough.-   Leaf blade veins: obscure.-   Leaf blade flexibility (softness): medium soft.-   Vegetative leaf, third youngest vegetative leaf:    -   -   Blade length range.—2.1 cm to 9.3 cm, mean length: 5.03 cm.        -   Blade width mean.—4.25 mm.        -   Sheath length mean.—2.06 cm.-   Stolon leaf angle, third youngest leaf: 82.3 (Meyer: 98.1; El Toro:    100.6).-   Inflorescence characters:    -   -   Culm total length, including floral area to node below flag            leaf.—12.9 cm. Length of stem of inflorescence: 8.0 cm.            Floral area length: 4.8 cm.        -   Culm width, stem thickness, base of floral area.—1.29 mm.        -   Anther length.—2.55 mm.        -   Floret (seed) length.—5.18 mm.        -   Floret (seed) width.—1.21 mm.        -   Node thickness, node below flag leaf.—1.8 mm.        -   Pedicel length.—3.18 mm.        -   Flag leaf length.—1.33 cm.        -   Flag leaf width.—2.38 mm.-   Mature plant height, including inflorescence: BM230: 20.2; Marion:    18.8 cm; Meyer: 15.0 cm.-   Color notations, vegetative characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour    Chart (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants    affect color notations):    -   -   Leaf blade color adaxial leaf surface.—137A green.        -   Leaf blade color abaxial leaf surface.—137A green.        -   Stolon color.—59A red purple and 146D yellow green.-   Color notations, floral characters, based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart    (light quality, photoperiod, and general growth of the plants affect    color notations):    -   -   Culm stalk.—146D yellow green.        -   Stigma.—155D white.        -   Anthers, mature, dried.—158A yellow white.-   Turf quality (rated 1-9, 9 best): 4; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4.5.-   Turf color (rated 1-9, 9 best): 6; ‘Meyer’: 5; ‘El Toro’: 4 .-   Turf density establishment rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 5.5; ‘Meyer’:    4; ‘El Toro’: 4.-   Leaf texture rating (rated 1-9, 9 best): 3; ‘Meyer’: 4; ‘Diamond’:    9.

REFERENCE CITED

U.S. Patent Documents October, 1998. Engelke, M. C. U.S. PP 10,636.‘Diamond’ zoysiagrass October, 2000. Engelke, M. C. U.S. PP 11,570.‘Crowne’ zoysiagrass December, 1986. U.S. PP 5,845. ‘El Toro’zoysiagrass Youngner, V. B. September, 2000. U.S. PP 11,515. ‘Palisades’zoysiagrass Engelke, M. C.

1. A new and distinct variety of zoysiagrass plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein, characterized particularly by a uniqueAFLP fingerprint and combination of morphological characters.